Apparatus for closing mattresses



Jan. 20, 1959 H. H. SEAVERT 2,869,493

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING MATTRESSES Filed Oct. 14, 1957 {Sheets-Sheet 1 MM.l'al QZf a Jan. 20, 1959 H. H. SEAVERT APPARATUS FOR CLOSING MATTRESSES4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1957 Li jfae 7%7021 Mm? flj 1959 H. H.SEAVERT 2,869,493

. APPARATUS FOR CLOSING MATTRESSES Fil'ed Oct. 14, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3R an??? M M MW ya".

I Jan. 20, 1959 H, H, SEAVERT 2,869,493

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING MATTRESSES Filed Oct. 14, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l'I" J' L l I 'chine. facilitate the production of mattress of uniformquality United APPARATUS FOR CLOSING MATEREESES Howard H. Seavert,Kenosha, Wis, assignor to imrnens Company, New York, N. Y., acorporation of Betaware Application Dctober 14, 1957, Seriai No. 6%,)69

2 Claims. (Cl. 112--3) This invention relates to improvements in amethod and apparatus for sewing mattresses, and more particularly to amethod and mechanism for facilitating the stitching of the top sheet ofticking to the border of a mattress in a mattress closing machine.

It will be understood that mattresses generally consist of an inner coreof wire springs suitably connected together to constitute what isreferred to as an inner construction. The spring core is covered top andbottom with padding material, usually resilient fibrous materials suchas cotton, hair, sisal, etc., and in more recent times, resilientcellular materials, such as foam rubber and other plastics. The springcore, thus padded, is enclosed in a surrounding cover of tickingcomprising a continuous border, and top and bottom face sheets stitchedat their marginal edges to the edges of the border.

The final assembly of mattresses of this type is performed on aso-called closing machine which com- .prises a table or suitable supportfor a partially assembled face ticking of the mattress and the verticalmattress border.

The uncompressed bulk of the spring construction and its padding areusually greater than the normal volume of the enclosing cover so thatthe final shape and size of the mattress are to some extent determinedby the size of the ticking envelope. Thus, in sewing the face ticking tothe mattress border, the closing machine operator has.

heretofore been required to pull the top ticking sidewardly withconsiderable force to bring its edge together with the edge of themattress border and to guide the two layers of material in superposedrelation into the sewing machine to be stitched. v

The main objects of the invention are to facilitate the closure ofmattresses by relieving the strain on the upper face ticking of themattress during sewing of the closure seams; to provide a mechanism forbending the partially "assembled mattress construction during the sewingof selected portions of the closure seam in such a way as to relieve thetension on the top ticking sheet, thereby to permit the operator to feedthe edges of the top ticking and border more uniformly into the sewingma- In general, it is the object of the invention to by reducing to alarge extent the element of manual physical force in the mattressclosing'operation.

Other objects of the invention will, be apparent from the ensuingdescription and from the accompanying .drawings which illustrate apreferred form of novel. mech- Patented Jan. 20, 1959 anism for carryingout the novel method of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mattress closing machine in accordance withthe invention, and adapted for carrying out the novel method of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken along the line of 2-2 of Fig. 1;and showing the relation of the sewing head, mattress, and table duringthe sewing operation;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional elevations taken respectively along thelines of 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a composite of several views of a switch operating mechanismmounted on the sewing head carriage, and seen only generally in Fig. 2,viz:

Fig. 5a is a plan view of the stationary switch and movable switchoperator;

Fig. 5b is an elevational view of the mechanism seen in plan in Fig. 5a;and

Fig. 5c is a similar elevational view, further illustrating theoperational relationship of the mechanism shown in Figs. 5a and 5b;

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram of the control arrangement for correlatingthe operation of the mattress bending mechanism with the position of thesewing head about the periphery of the tabie.

In accordance with the method of invention, the face ticking sheet ofthe mattress is slackened during the sewing of the closure seam byelevating the side of the mattress opposite the side along which theseam is being sewed. Since the mattress is not rigid in its own plane,the lifting of one side of the mattress bends the mattress sufficientlyto shorten the linear distance between its opposed edges, therebyproviding sufficient slack in the top ticking to enable the operatorthereof to feed the same, along with the adjacent edge of the mattressborder, freely into the sewing head as it advances around the table.

After the seam is sewed along the side opposite the side which waslifted, the lifted side is lowered and the top ticking drawn tautbetween the two sides to cornpress the enclosed padding material.

While it will be appreciated that the bending of the mattress during thesewing of the final closure seam may be accomplished in various ways,the novel mechanism herein proposed provides the desired result byelevating selected edge portions of the mattress, as may be required,according to the position of the sewing head about the periphery of thetable.

The closing table proper The basic clcsing'machine in connection withwhich the novel bending mechanism of this invention is here illustrated,is described in detail in United States Patent No. 1,857,371, and isre-described here only to the extent necessary to an understanding ofthe present invention.

The closing machine, or closing table as it is sometimes calie'd,includes a supporting understructure 10 comprising four legs orstandards 7.2 located respectively at each of the four corners of themachine,'thestandards being rigidly interconnected at their tops andnear their Q the table and is similarly pivoted at its opposite end tothe corresponding bell crank at the Opposite end of the table. Seeparticularly Fig. 2. It will be understood that the table top issupported at each of its two sides by identical systems of connectedbell cranks, the two systems being cross-connected for unison movementby a shaft or torque rod 23 secured to opposed bell cranks. The tabletop is held at the upper position of adjustment by means of a suitablelatch mechanism, not shown, which acts upon one of the tie rods 25, andcounterbalancing springs, not, shown, may be provided to assist theoperator in manually lifting the table top and mattress to the upperlevel by grasping the edge of the table surface and lifting it from apoint anywhere about its periphery.

The details of the table top adjustment are not of themselves a part ofthis invention being fully described in the aforementioned Gail PatentNo. 1,857,371. They are shown and described here only to the extentnecessary to indicate generally the vertical adjustability of the entiretable, to accommodate mattresses of varying thickness. Thisadjustability also compensates for the variation in the height of thetop surface of the mattress in the sewing of the two face tickings of anindividual mattress since, in the sewing of the first ticking, the lowerside of the mattress is usually as yet unpadded.

The carriage 13, upon which a sewing head 17 is mounted, comprises agenerally vertical post member which is supported from the upper track14 by means of rollers 32 confined in an upwardly facing groove 34 inthe track. The carriage 18 is supported and guided at its lower end bymeans of a pair of rollers 36 which engage opposite sides of thevertical flange of the lower track 16, which is preferably formed ofangle iron. An electric motor 38, carried by a pedestal 49 at the lowerend of the post member 3%, provides power through a system 42 of beltsand clutches, not only to operate the sewing head of the machine butalso to propel the carriage on its tracks about the periphery of thetable.

The propulsion drive comprises a vertical shaft 44, driven as aforesaidfrom the motor, and having at its upper end a spur gear 46 engaging anelongated peripheral rack 48 secured to the underside of the upper trackmember 14. The details of the driving connections between the motor andthe propulsion gear, and between the motor and the sewing head, form nopart of the present invention, and again, reference may be had to saidGail Patent No. 1,857,371 for a complete showing and description ofsuitable driving connections. insofar as the present invention isconcerned, it is sufficient to understand that the invention isapplicable to a mattress closing machine comprising a table or suitablesurface for supporting a partially assembled mattress construction, anda sewing machine head which traverses the periphery of the table inposition to sew a closure seam between the top ticking and border of themattress.

Themattress lifting mechanism At one end of the table (see Figs. 1, 2and 4), there is a horizontal lifting bar 59 located in a well or aperture 52 in the table top 21 and extending generally parallel to theadjacent end of the table. The bar is down-turned slightly at its ends(Fig. 4) to provide smooth contact with the underside of the mattressduring the. lifting operation, and has on its underside a U-shaped'bracket 54 of strap iron or the like, by means of which it is connectedto the piston rod 56 of a lifting cylinder A and to a pair of guide rods58 which flank the cylinder. Each of the guide rods 58 is slidablymounted in a guide sleeve 60, secured, together with the cylinder A, inan angle iron frame 62 which, as illustrated, extends to, and issupported upon the floor. It will be understood that when pressure fluidis admitted to the lifting cylinder A from a suitable source, thelifting bar 52 is raised as indicated in Fig. 2, and in turn raises theimmediately overlying and adjacent portions of the mattress. Within thelimits of the maximum stroke of the cylinder piston, the upward travelof the bar 59 is adjustably limited by means of collars 64 resting onadjusting units 66 at the lower ends of the guide rods 58. Inasmuch asthe mattress is flexible, it becomes bent concave on its upper surface(see Fig. 2), providing slack in the upper ticking to facilitate themaking of the closure seam at the end of the mattress opposite thatwhich is lifted.

A similar but larger well or opening 68 is provided in the table top 21along an adjacent longer side of the table top to receive a liftingplaten 70 which, although different in shape and size from the liftingbar 50 previously described, is connected to a lifting cylinder B andguiding mechanism which may be identical withthat which operates thelifting bar 50.

The lifting platen 70 is preferably formed of sheet metal withdownturned edges to protect the underside of the mattress, and ispreferably inclined downwardly toward the center of the table so as toprovide extended support for the underside of the mattress as it becomesbent when the lifting platen is raised. The inclined position of theplaten is maintained by suitable underframing, consisting, asillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, of an elongated angle iron support 72, towhich the piston and guide rods are secured, and by means of anglebrackets 74 which are secured to the angle iron support 72 and to theunderside of the platen 75 (see Fig. 3), preferably by welding.

Therefore, as each of the lifting mechanisms is operated, the mattressis lifted either at one end or at one side in order to provide slack inits upper surface while the sewinghead is making its seam along theopposite end or side respectively of the mattress.

Controls In the particular closing machine illustrated, the sewingmachine carriage 18 traverses the periphery of the table in a clockwisedirection when viewed from the top (see Fig. 1). It will be understoodalso that the padding material does not appreciably interfere withthesewing of the final closure seam along the first end and side'of themattress inasmuch as the opposite end and side are as yet unsecured tothe border. The interference from the padding and the necessity forproviding slack in the upper ticking is greatest during the sewing ofthe last end and side, for it is in the latter two operations that thetop ticking must be pulled taut to enclose and. confine the padding.

Therefore, referring to Fig. 1, the sewing of the top ticking to themattress border is begun at the lower left hand corner of the table top21, proceeding clockwise up the left hand edge of the table and across.the top edge from left to right. When the two adjacent sides of the topticking are thus sewed to the border, it then becomes timely to raisethe bar 50 to lift the opposite end of the mattress (Fig. 2) to provideslack for sewing the seam down the right hand side of the table, as seenin Fig. 1. As the sewing carriage rounds the lower right hand corner,the lifting bar 50 may be dropped, and the lifting platen 70 elevated tobend the mattress at right angles to the direction in which it was firstbent by the lifting bar 50. The elevation of the platen 70 providesslack for the final leg of the closure seam as the sewing carriagetraverses from right to left along the .lower Automatic operation In theembodiment shown, the automatic actuation of the lifting mechanisms isaccomplished electrically by three switches S1, S2 'and S3 which'areappropriately p0- sitioned along the upper track member 14 and securedto the inner side edge thereof in position to be actuated by the passingcarriage 18. The position of the switches relative to the periphery ofthe table is indicated generally in Fig. 1. The switch S1 is locatednear the upper right hand corner of the table as seen in Fig. 1, andwhen actuated by the passing carriage, in a manner subsequentlydescribed, operates to admit pressure fluid to the lifting cylinder Aassociated with the lifting bar 50, so that as the sewing carriagerounds the upper right hand corner, the mattress will be lifted at itsopposite end to pro vide slack in the upper ticking for the sewing ofthe seam.

As the sewing carriage approaches the lower right hand corner, itactuates switch S2, which serves the dual purpose of venting the liftingcylinder A associated with the lifting bar 50, and admitting pressurefluid to the lifting cylinder B associated with the platen 70, therebydropping the mattress at its left hand end, and lifting it at its upperside to provide slack for sewing the final leg of the closure seam alongthe bottom end of the table, as seen in Fig. 1. As the sewing of thefinal seam is completed, the carriage trips switch S3 which operates tovent the lifting cylinder B associated with the platen 70, permitting itto retract under the force of gravity.

The physical relation of the switches S and the switch operator on thecarriage 18 are shown in detail in Fig. 5, which should be examined inconnection with Fig. 2. In the latter, it will be seen that there is abar 76 secured to the sewing carriage 18 and extending inwardly beneaththe peripheral edge of the table top 21, but above the upper trackmember 14. Depending from the bar 76 is a pivotally mounted leaf 78which is disposed to engage and depress the switch plunger 80 to operatethe switch. As best seen in Fig. 5, the leaf 78 comprises a short pieceof strap metal secured as by welding at its upper end to a short pieceof metal tube 82 which is rotatably mounted on a pin or bolt 84 in thesupporting bar 76. The leaf 78 is thus pivotally mounted ofi center andretained against the side of the supporting bar 76 in switch-engagingposition by the force of gravity. At its lower end the leaf is slightlybent in the trailing direction relative to its path of movement so as toprovide for camming engagement with the switch plunger 80.

The switch housing is secured by any suitable means to the inner edge ofthe upper track member 14 (see Fig. 2) at a height sufiicient to ensureengagement between the operating leaf 78 and the switch plunger 80. Atits upper end, the switch plunger 80 is forked to receive a small roller86 which facilitates the camming engagement of the leaf 78 with theplunger 80. As will be seen in Fig. 5b, thetravel of the leaf from leftto right will depress the plunger to actuate the switch.

The above described arrangement permits reverse movement of the sewinghead carriage 18 without operation of the switch, as indicated in Fig.5c. If, as may sometimes be necessary to repair an imperfectly executedseam, the sewing carriage 18 is reversed, the switchoperating leaf 78,in passing a switch plunger 80 pivots freely in a counter-clockwisedirection as seen in Fig. 5c, and passes freely over the switch plunger80 without depressing the plunger. After passing the switch plungeroperating leaf 78 returns to its normal position under the force ofgravity.

The control circuit The control circuit for automatically operating themattress-lifting mechanism in response to the position of the sewinghead carriage is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6.

The lifting cylinders A and B are not shown in detail, inasmuch as thenature of the cylinders is not specifically a part of the invention.They are preferably of the single-acting, air-operated type, controlledby a two-way s0lenoid-actuated valve which is positionable to admit airunder pressure to the cylinder, and, alternatively, to vent thecylinder. In the interest of safety, the control circuit is preferablyoperated at low voltage obtained from a transformer 88 connected to adistribution line. The solenoid windings 90, 91, 92 and 93 are connectedin parallel to the transformer secondary through the normally-openswitches S1, S2 and S3 in such a way that when switch S1 is momentarilyclosed by the passage of the carriage, the solenoid winding 90 ofcylinder A is energized to move the valve to admit pressure air of thecylinder A to elevate the lifting bar 50. When the carriage is movedsufiiciently to have momentarily closed switch S2, the other solenoidwinding 91 of the cylinder A valve is energized to move the valve to theventing position, and the first solenoid winding 92 of the cylinder Bvalve is simultaneously energized to move that valve to admit pressureair to cylinder B. When in due course switch S3 is momentarily closed,the second winding 93 of the cylinder B valve is energized to move thevalve to the venting position, and the lifting platen 70, controlled bycylinder B, returns by gravity to its retracted position to complete thecycle of operation.

Summary From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that thesewing of a mattress ticking to its border is facilitated in accordancewith the invention by bending the mattress concave upwardly in order torelax the tension in the upper ticking as it is being sewed. In thenovel mechanism disclosed, the bending of the mattress is achieved bylifting the end or side of the mattress opposite that which is beingsewed, the actuation of the lifting mechanism being preferablyco-ordinated automatically with the position of the sewing machinecarriage so as to permit the operator of the machine to devote hisentire attention to the sewing operation.

The features of the invention believed to be new and patentable are setforth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mattress closing table comprising a supporting understructure, atable top supported thereon for supporting a mattress to be closed, asewing machine head disposed above the level of said table top andmovably mounted on said table to traverse a fixed path about theperiphery of said table to sew a continuous closure seam around amattress reposed thereon, elongated lifting members in said table topalong two adjacent sides thereof, power-operated lifting seamsassociated with each of said lifting members for elevating the sameabove the level of said table top, control means mounted on said tablein position to be actuated by the passage of the sewing machine as ittraverses the periphery of the table, said control means being connectedto said power-operated lifting means to control the application of powerthereto, said control means being positioned to effect the elevation ofeach said lifting member while said sewing machine traverses the side ofsaid table opposite said lifting member.

2. A mattress closing table comprising a supporting understructure, atable top supported thereon for supporting a mattress to be closed, asewing machine head disposed above the level of said table top andmovably mounted on said table to traverse a fixed path about theperiphery of said table top to sew a continuous closure seam around amattress reposed thereon, elongated lifting members in said table topalong and generally parallel to two adjacent sides thereof, afluid-operated cylinder associated with each such lifting member forelevating the same above the level of said table top to elevate theoverlying and immediately adjacent portion of said mattress,electrically-operated valve means associated with each such cylinder andpositionable alternatively to admit pressure fluid to the cylinder andto vent the same, electric switch means mounted on said table inposition to be actuated by the passage of said sewing machine head 8 asit traverses the periphery of said table, said switch References Citedin the file of this patent means being electrically connected toenergize said valve vmeans to position the same to admit pressurefluidto the UNITED STATES PATENTS lifting cylinder associated with each suchlifting mem- 1,857,371 Gail May 10, 1932 her While the sewing machinehead traverses the side of 1,979,901 Perlesz Nov. 6, 1934 the tableopposite said lifting member. 2,369,243 Lechler Nov. 13,1945

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Noa2,869,493 January 2O 1959 Howard H a Seavert It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the-printed specification of the above "numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 2, line 33, strike out the Word "thereof",- eolumn 6, line 48,for seams" read we means coIumn 8, line 6, list of references cited for"Novas l3 1945" read mu FED, 1331 1945 =0.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of May 1959,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H, AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Oflicer Commissioner ofPatents

